Key ring support



June 6, Q HILL KEY RING SUPPORT Filed May 6, 1958 INVENTOR. /my H/LLATTE! RN EYS United States Patent 2,986,786 KEY RING SUPPORT Okay Hill,E. 711 Walton Ave., Spokane, Wash. Filed May 6, 1958, Ser. No. 733,435 2Claims. (Cl. 24-3) This invention relates to a support for a key ring.

The object of the invention is to provide a support for a key ringwherein with a plurality of keys attached to the key ring, the key ringcan be conveniently supported on a persons belt or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a support which isconstructed so that it can be readily attached to or detached from asupporting article such as a persons belt, and wherein the key ring canbe readily removed from or attached to the support, the device beingconstructed so that accidental separation or loss of the key ring isprevented.

A further object of the invention is to provide a key ring support whichis extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of thefollowing description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and inwhich like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout thesame:

FIGURE l is an elevational view showing the key ring support of thepresent invention attached to a persons belt.

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view of the key ring support, showing thedevice removed from the belt and without the key ring thereon.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of FIGURE l.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2.

`FIGURE 5 is a sectional View taken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view illustrating the body member.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of 'the support member.

FIGURE 8 is an elevational view illustrating a modiied construction.

FIGURE 9 is a View taken at right angles to the View shown in FIGURE 8.

Referring in detail to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGURES lthrough 7 of the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates the key ring supportof the present invention which is shown in FIGURES l and 3 attached to aconventional belt such as a belt worn around a persons waist and thisbelt 11 is shown in FIGURE l. The numeral 12 indicates a conventionalkey ring which is used for supporting a plurality of keys such as thekeys 13, FIGURE l.

'Ihe support 10 of the present invention includes a support member 14 ofone-piece construction, FIGURE 7. The support member 14 includes a firstportion 15 which terminates in a lower curved second portion 16 that hastapered or haring side edges 17. Extending upwardly from the secondportion 16 is an upstanding flat third portion 18, and the upper edge ofthe third portion 18 terminates in a curved upper fourth portion 19.Depending from the fourth portion 19 is a fth portion 20, and theportions and 2t) lie in the same plane but have their free edges spacedfrom each other as shown in the drawings.

As shown in FIGURE 7 for example, the portion 18 is provided with a pairof opposed lugs 21 which are struckout so as to define the openings 22,for a purpose to be later described.

2,986,786 Patented June 6, 1961.

As shown in FIGURE 6, there is further provided a body member which isindicated generally by the numeral 23, and the body member 23 is aseparate piece from the support member 14. The body member 23 fitswithin the support member 14, and the body member 23 includes a rstsection 24 which is arranged contiguous to the inner surface of theportion 20. The lower edge of the section 24 is mounted for movementinto and out of engagement with the inner surface of the portion 15, asfor example as shown by solid and dotted lines in FIGURE 3. Thisarrangement permits the lower edge of the section 24 to move from thesolid line position of FIGURE 3 to the dotted line position of FIGURE 3,as for example when the key ring 12 is to be removed from or positionedin the support.

The body member 23 further includes an upper curved section 25 which isarranged contiguous to the inner surface of the portion 19, and thesection 25 terminates in a downwardly extending second section 26 whichis arranged contiguous to the inner surface of the portion 1'8. Thesection 26 s provided with a pair of opposed spaced apart recesses 27for engagement by the lugs 21 Whereby the section 26 will be securelyfastened or attached to the portion 18. As shown in the drawings, thetransverse width of the second section 26 between the recesses 27 issubstantially equal to the transverse width of the irst section 24.

Referring now to FIGURES 8 and 9 of the drawings, there is shown amodified key ring support which is indicated generally by the numeral28, and the key ring support 28 is fabricated of a single piece ofmaterial instead of being made of two pieces of material as previouslydescribed. As shown in FIGURES 8 and 9, the support 28 includes a rstportion 29 which terminates in a lower curved second portion 60 which isprovided with tapered or flaring side edges 31. Extending upwardly fromthe curved portion 30 is an upstanding flat portion 32 which terminatesin an upper curved fourth portion 33, and the fourth portion 33terminates in a downwardly extending lifth portion 34. The free edges ofthe portions 34V and 29 are arranged in overlapping relationwith respectto each other. When a key ring such as the key ring 12 is to be insertedin the support, the portion 32 can be flexed or moved inwardly away fromthe portion 29 so that the key ring can be readily positioned in thedevice. Similarly, by iiexing the portion 34 inwardly away from theportion 29, the key ring can be readily removed from the device. Thesupport 28 is adapted to have a supporting article such as the belt 11extended therethrough through the upper end thereof.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided asupport which is especially suitable for holding or supporting a keyring such as the key ring 12. According to the present invention thereis shown in FIGURES 1 through 7 a support 10 which is made of twoseparate members, namely, the support member 14 and the body member 23.These members are connected together by means of the lugs 21 whichengage the recesses 27 and this construction permits the lower edge ofthe section 24 to move towards and away from the upper edge of theportion 15 as for example when the device is to be mounted on a beltsuch as the belt 11, or when the key ring -12 is to be inserted in orremoved from the device. The parts are constructed of a material whichhas a proper amount of resiliency or springiness so that when pressureis released on the section 24, the parts will return from the dottedline position of FIG- URE 3 to the solid line position of FIGURE 3,whereby accidental separation of the support from the belt 11 isprevented, and wherein accidental disengagement of the ring 12 from thesupport is also prevented.

Instead of making the support in two pieces as Shown in FIGURES 1through 7, it may be made from a single piece of suitable material asshown in FIGURES 8 and 9. With the support 28 of FIGURES 8 and 9, thedevice may have a belt arranged in engagement therewith, and the loweredge of the portion 34 can be flexed or moved inwardly away from theupper edge of the portion 29 so as to permit a key ring to be readilyinserted therein or removed therefrom. Normally when no manual pressureis applied to the portion 34, the parts are in the position shown inFIGURES 8 and 9.

The various parts can be made of any suitable material and in dierentshapes or sizes.

The device is provided with rounded corners so that accidental snaggingwill be prevented, or minimized.

Thus, it will be seen that there has been provided a new and practicaldevice which will facilitate the carrying of keys on a ring. The deviceis especially suitable for connection to a belt being worn by a person,or else it can be attached to a different article of clothing. Thedevice requires only one hand to release the keys or apply them, and thedevice cannot accidentally come off of the belt and the keys cannotaccidentally work loose from the support. The device is adapted to bemade of a strong material and the keys and ring can be readily removedwith one hand. The parts can be made of a suitable metal which can beplaced, and if desired, it can be made from stainless steel and thenburnished. Or, if desired, it could be gold, silver or chrome plated.The device may be finished plain, or a suitable trademark or emblem ormonogram or decoration can be added thereto in order to increase orenhance the attractiveness of the device. The device is convenient andsafe to use and is compact and neat in appearance and is strong anddurable. The parts can be made of spring steel whereby the parts willhave the necessary amount of springiness.

Minor changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details coming withinthe iield of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, ifdesired.

I claim:

`1. In a device of the character described,'a support member made ofnarrow strip material and including a narrow rst portion, said rstportion terminating in a curved second portion, said second portionterminating in an upstanding ilat third portion, the upper end of saidthird portion terminating in a curved fourth portion, a

fth portion extending downwardly from said fourth portion, the freeedges of said fth and first portions being spaced from each other, apair of spaced apart lugs projecting from said third portion, a bodymember including a rst section arranged contiguous to the inner surfacesof said first and fifth portions, said body member further including anupper curved section arranged contiguous to the inner surface of saidfourth portion, said body member also including a second sectionarranged contiguous to the inner surface of said third portion, therebeing a pair of opposed spaced apart recesses in said second section forengagement by said lugs, the transverse width of the second sectionbetween said recesses being substantially equal to the transverse widthof said first section.

2. In a device of the character described, a support member made ofnarrow strip material and including a narrow iirst portion, said firstportion terminating in a curved second portion, said second portionterminating in an upstanding ilat third portion, the upper end of saidthird portion terminating in a curved fourth portion, a fifth portionextending downwardly from said fourth portion, the free edges of saidfth and first portions being spaced from each other, a pair of spacedapart lugs projecting from said third portion, a body member including arst section arranged contiguous to the inner surfaces of said rst andfth portions, said body member further including an upper curved sectionarranged contiguous to the inner surface of said fourth portion, saidbody member also including a second section arranged contiguous to theinner surface of said third portion, there being a pair of opposedspaced apart recesses in said second section for engagement by saidlugs, the transverse width of the second section between said recessesbeing substantially equal to the transverse width of said rst section,the lower end of said first section being mounted for movement into andout of engagement with the upper end of said rst portion.

References Cited in the ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,295,190 Morrison Feb. 25, 1919 1,304,403 Storch May 20, 1919 1,501,738Baxter July 1S, 1924

